Washington, D.C. – The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) announced today the establishment of the AISI Standards Council. This new organizational structure, which was formally approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), will consolidate the leadership and administrative functions of the formerly separate Executive Subcommittees of the AISI Committee on Specifications and AISI Committee on Framing Standards.

The new AISI Standards Council is responsible for maintaining ANSI accreditation and ensuring compliance with the approved operating procedures, which is important to continuing the openness, balance and consensus structure of the standards development process. The new AISI Standards Council is also responsible for maintaining an efficient and effective committee/leadership structure, monitoring the complete suite of ANSI-accredited AISI standards, and identifying needs for developing new standards.

“The establishment of the AISI Standards Council will enhance the communication and coordination of the committees, and provide a platform for AISI to expand the scope of its standards development activities as opportunities arise,” said Dr. Helen Chen, manager, AISI Construction Standards.

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI’s codes and standards activities are supported through the investment of the companies of the Construction Market Council of the Steel Market Development Institute, a business unit of AISI. AISI is comprised of 27 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI's member companies represent approximately 75 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s Web site at www.steel.org.

Source: American Iron and Steel Institute, October 28, 2008.